An important issue in understanding the low-frequency oscillations of the
atmosphere and the ocean-atmosphere system concerns the role of transients
during individual events. This question is examined from an observational point
of view for the period from September 1981 to April 1982, which includes the
transitional phase of the 1982-1983 El Niño/Southern Oscillation (ENSO)
cycle, as well as six Madden-Julian (30-60 day) oscillations (MJO). For the
developing ENSO, it is shown that interannual transitions in the anomalous
atmospheric circulation and in the sea surface temperatures in the
western-central Pacific coincide with the passage of strong MJOs from the
Indian to Pacific oceans. For a MJO during December 1981, evidence is provided
that the shift of convection from the eastern Indian Ocean to the western
Pacific Ocean involves transients having periods around 10 days. The role of
transients is discussed from the perspective of these interannual and
intraseasonal modes.